In an offensive game featuring 25 runs, 21 hits, 12 walks, and three hit batters, it was defense that helped the Vicksburg-based Mississippi Mudcats remain unbeaten at the Cal Ripken 11-year-olds’ State Tournament Saturday.

Defensive plays by catcher Hunter Austin and third baseman Reed Evans helped the Mudcats keep Philadelphia from scoring in the last two innings to preserve a 16-9 victory at Halls Ferry Park.

The Mudcats, 3-0 in the nine-team tournament, move on to face the Orange Grove Rage today at 4 p.m. in a meeting of the last two unbeaten teams in the field. Philadelphia slips into a noon elimination game against red-hot East Central. Today’s other elimination game pits Florence against Stone County.

Mudcats’ coach Marshall Upton said afterward that his team can make a run to a state title.

&#8220We’ve got six kids on this team who have tampered with this level of ball, but we’ve also got six that have never experienced this. But I feel the strength of those kids with the experience can make this the year we make a run,” Upton said.

&#8220For us as coaches, it’s just a matter of putting them in the best place where they can succeed. I feel like we’ve got plenty of pitching. What’s good is that we’ve got guys who throw at different velocities. Cam (Upton) doesn’t throw as hard as Reed (Evans) and the others but he can throw a strike and change speeds.”

Cam Upton came on in relief in the sixth with no outs and the bases loaded. He struck out a pinch-hitter and then got a ground ball to Evans at third base. Evans made the forceout at third and threw over to Michael Mason at first base to complete a game-ending double play.

An inning before, Austin made a diving catch of a pop-up in front of the plate to get a crucial out and stop Philly’s momentum after it held the Mudcats scoreless in the top half of the inning.

&#8220We’re a much stronger team than what we showed. How many errors did we have? Six,” said Philly coach John Pickens, shaking his head. &#8220Our first pitcher struggled and we brought in our best guy in Johntrell (Powell) and then he got us in more trouble with the walks.”

The Mudcats knocked out Philly starter K.J. Moore in the second after scoring four in the first, keyed by a three-run triple by Evans.

Philly got three back in the second off a 3-run homer by Ray Luke. Luke finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

Powell then helped the Mudcats by issuing six walks in an eight-run outburst in the third. Two hits and two errors aided the rally that put the Vicksburg team up 12-3.

Four Philly errors in the fourth chased home three more runs to make it 15-5.

Philly managed four runs in the bottom of the fourth off four hits and two Mudcat errors to trim it to 15-9.

Evans led the Mudcats driving in five runs off a triple, single and a bases-loaded walk. Upton and Austin each had two hits.

Evans, the Mudcats’ second pitcher, went 1 1/3 innings to grab his second win of the tournament. Upton picked up a save by tossing a scoreless sixth.

Orange Grove 4, Florence 3.

Orange Grove moved into today’s match-up with the Mudcats by scoring a run in the top of the sixth to beat Florence. Malley sat Florence down in order to lock up the save.

E. Central 1, North Jackson 0.

Lane Brooks scored the game’s only run in the first inning and then pitched four innings to lead East Central to its second win of the day. Kaleb Malone pitched the final two innings to complete the Hornets’ shutout. Dillon Ladner had the lone RBI.

Stone County 5, Gulfport 4.

Stone sent Gulfport home, getting two runs each from Fant Carpenter and Parker Smith. Matt Phillips pitched the final inning to grab the win.

East Central 11, Booneville 3.

Dillon Ladner struck out seven in tossing a complete game for East Central in a morning elimination game. He also scored three runs.

Booneville scored three in the first but East Central ran off 11 straight runs to send the Blue Devils home.

8-year-olds.

Vicksburg Venom 9, Orange Grove 5 – Ledaryan Huband went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Tyler Smith was 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs as the Venom advanced to the semifinals of the 8-year-olds’ Cal Ripken State Tournament in Jackson.

The Venom will face the Central Mississippi Orange Crush, a team from Morton, today at 1 p.m. The loser will play again at 5 p.m., while the winner will advance to the championship game on Monday.

On Friday, the Venom beat Vancleave 10-5 and Philadelphia 7-6.

12-year-olds.

Long Beach 7, Vicksburg 6 – Long Beach rallied for two unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning to eliminate Vicksburg from the quarterfinals of the 12-year-olds’ Cal Ripken State Tournament. Vicksburg left five men on base in the game, including two in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Cody Isaac had a double, triple and six RBIs for Vicksburg.

Vicksburg 12, Florence 7 – Vicksburg won its first game of the day, cranking out 12 hits in a rout of Florence. Sam Staggs went 3-for-4 for Vicksburg, and Jonathan Clay had two hits. Jake Ward picked up the win on the mound.